A peek at the Windows Phone 7's memory model, which allocates 2 GB to the kernel and 2 GB to apps. (Source: Tweakers.net)

Microsoft is hard at work crafting its response to Apple, RIM, and Google

This
week, details about both the Windows Phone 7 architecture and low-end
phone hardware for developing nations was aired.

Microsoft
faces much the same position as Palm does in the smartphone market --
it's losing
marketshare to a charging Google and is falling farther away
from entrenched market leaders Apple and Research in
Motion.

Microsoft's answer is a complete reboot of its
smartphone franchise, however, some are skeptical. The initial
implementation of Microsoft's new operating system -- Windows Phone 7
-- reportedly
will lack many features that competitors have, such as
support for multi-tasking and copy/paste. Still, many are
intrigued to see what the new design will
bring.

Tweakers.netreceived leaked
slides showing the architecture of the new smartphone OS. The
OS is a 32-bit operating system. Under the memory model,
application processes get up to 2 GB of memory, 1 GB of which is
virtual memory. The kernel, likewise, gets its own 2 GB of
memory space.

The mandated processor will be an ARMv7 design.
Multi-touch, FM Tuner, Wi-Fi, GPS, and camera are also mandated.
The default screen resolution is 800x480 pixels, but developers
can go as low as 480x320 (the resolution of the current
iPhone).

Bluetooth 3.0 and 4.0 support is
noticeably absent, though the phone will support the widespread
Bluetooth 2.1 standard. Microsoft hopefully plans an update at
some point to add support for later versions of the wireless
communication standard, but there's no specific details at this
point.

Interestingly the OS utilizes two different file
systems -- TexFAT for user files or IMGFS for system files.
There's talk about putting the phone in a mostly disabled state if
key system files are deleted.

More interestingly the slides
indicate that Microsoft is planning memory card support.
Previously, at developers events, several sources were told by
Microsoft executives that memory cards were confusing to users and
that it was omitting
them to "simplify" the design. At this point
its unclear whether memory card support is in, out, or coming
soon.

Microsoft has strict rules with OEMs when it comes to
software. Bing is the default search engine for the phone --
that cannot be changed. OEMs can change the default search
engine within Internet Explorer, though. Likewise, the home
screen tiles are non-negotiable. However, OEMs can add their
own extra tiles to the home screen. Finally, trial apps are
disallowed and OEMs are only allowed to add 6 apps and not use more
than 60 MB of storage space.

In separate Windows Phone 7
news, Sudeep
Bharati, who works on Microsoft India’s Visual Studio team,
says that a special fourth chassis will be added for phone sold in
developing nations. He describes, "The low-cost version of
the phone will have a different chassis than version 1 to be launched
by 2010 end."

While he mentioned that it would be
"low-cost" -- perfect for developing countries like India
or China -- he did not mentioning anything about cutting the minimum
hardware requirements, raising questions about how Microsoft will be
cutting costs on the developing nations-targeting handset.

Three
chassis designs were previously
announced for the U.S. models, including the wide design
(similar to the Zune), a slide out keyboard version, and a third,
unannounced, chassis. The third chassis has been speculated by
some to be a candy bar or slider design.

"It looks like the iPhone 4 might be their Vista, and I'm okay with that." -- Microsoft COO Kevin Turner